Robert P. York

from the Brookfield Courier, March 3, 1887:

COLONEL ROBERT P. YORK.
Another Distinguished Veteran An-
swers the Final Roll--A Brief
Sketch of His Eventful Career--The
Imposing Funeral Obsequities.
The following obituary of Col. Robert
P. York we condense from the DeRuyter
New Era Gleaner; Col. Robert P. York,
of whose severe illness we have made
frequent mention, died at his residence
in this village on Sunday Afternoon last.
Although the community well under-
stood the serious nature of his disease,
yet its sad ending was a surprise to all
save those who were with him the past
week. They felt that recovery was im-
possible. But when, a week before, he
had rallied after hours of unconsciousness
and knew again his family and friends,
the impression went out, somehow, that
the crisis had passed, and that the sturdy
veteran would finally come off conquerer.
The chronic kidney troubles, which had
affected him in a mild form for years,
combined with the fever, greatly weak-
ened his system and left him an easy
victim to the attack of pneumonia which
followed. He was confined to the house
twenty-four days, and during the most
of that time his sufferings were intense.
He bore them with great resignation,
and answered to the final roll call as
readily and bravely as he oft went
out to meet death, in battle array, a
quarter of a century ago. He desired to
more fully accomplish the life work he
had mapped out, yet not a murmur es-
caped his lips as the sable messenger
approached.
Robert P. York was born in the town
of Lincklaen, and in that town and De-
Ruyter the days of his boyhood and early
manhood were spent. In August, 1862,
he entered the United States service in
the war against the rebellion, and enlist-
ed some sixty-seven men in this town
and vicinity, which comprised parts of
Cos. D and H of the 114th regiment.
He was the original 1st Lieutenant of
Co. H, and August 9, 1963, was made
its Captain. He served in the capacity
of Ordinance Officer, Inspector General
and Provost Marshal of Weitzel's Bri-
gade; also Provost Marshal of 1st
Division of the 19th Corps, and Commis-
sary of Musters of Divisions and Corps.
In January of 1864 he was commissioned
Lieutenant Colonel of the 75th New
York, and subsequently was appointed
Provost Marshal of Savannah, Ga.,
whither he went with his regiment.
He was slightly wounded at Opequan.
Col. York discharged, with marked
ability, the duties of the various posi-
tions he held while in the service, and
won the esteem of his superiors and
comrades everywhere.
Soon after the war closed, Col. York
settled in Syracuse and for ten years re-
sided in that city. During a part of
this period he was a commercial traveler;
later he engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness, in company with others, and finally
by himself. In November, 1877, hr re-
moved to DeRuyter and opened a dry
goods store. Here, in a field already
filled, and in competition with shrewd
and heavy dealers, he built up an ex-
tensive and increasing business. His
customers learned to place im-
plicit confidence in his word, and were
never deceived. He was honest and
above board in every transaction; out-
spoken, manly and fearless. Occasion-
ally his views clashed with others', but
he maintained them fearlessly and ably.
The funeral of Col. York was held at
the M.E. Church, on the afternoon of
February 22. The interior was heavily
draped, by the society, and the words,
"WE MOURN OUR LOSS," which extended
across the wall in the rear of the plat-
form, bespoke the feeling of every one
of the five hundred present. It was the
largest funeral ever assembled in De-
Ruyter. Every store in the village was
closed, and many business men from
other places were present. Tioughnioga
Fire Company, of which he was a mem-
ber, appeared in uniform; and the A.O.
U.W. Lodge, of which he was the first
presiding officer, attended in full regalia
with a large delegation from New Wood-
stockLodge and from Truxton Lodge,
which he recently organized. The
bretheren formed a line each side of the
walk extending from his late residence
to the church door, and stood with bow-
ed and uncovered heads as the casket
containing the remains of their beloved
comrade was carried through the ranks to
the sacred edifice. Prayer was offered
by Rev. L.R. Swinney, and after a
brief and touching sermon by Rev. Char.
Haynes, the services were concluded by
the A.O.U.W., in accordance with
their impressive burial ritual. With
saddened hearts, a large concourse fol-
lowed his corpse to the DeRuyter cem-
etery, and witnessed its consignment to
Mother Earth.
The sorrowing family have the deepest
sympathy of all.